Fluid-Surgical Instrument With Variable Spray Image

Abstract

A fluid-surgical instrument includes a nozzle ( 20 ) to which a vibration can be applied. This concept can be used for changing the direction of the jet during the operation of the nozzle to generate an artificial wiping motion or to impart the nozzle with only micromovements that inject into the fluid jet a transverse pulse and thus lead to a change of the jet image. It is possible to combine both effects with each other. In this manner, the surgeon can retrieve, on command, e.g., different jet shapes made available by software technology and generate such jet shapes with one and the same instrument. In doing so, the surgeon can achieve varying effects without having to change the instrument and the nozzle.

1 . Fluid-surgical instrument ( 12 ) comprising:
 a fluid conductor ( 15 ) that extends through a carrier ( 33 ) and to whose proximal end ( 26 ) a pressurized fluid can be applied,   a nozzle ( 20 ) that is connected to a distal end ( 19 ) of the fluid conductor ( 15 ) in order to allow a jet ( 21 ) of the fluid supplied by the fluid conductor ( 15 ) to the nozzle ( 20 ) to exit in an exit direction ( 28 ),   an actuator ( 32 ) that is in operative connection with the nozzle ( 20 ) in order to move said nozzle in an oscillating manner relative to the carrier ( 33 ).   
     
     
         2 . Instrument as in  claim 1  wherein the nozzle ( 20 ) is arranged on the distal end ( 26 ) of the carrier ( 33 ). 
     
     
         3 . Instrument as in  claim 2  wherein the actuator ( 32 ) is arranged between the nozzle ( 20 ) and the carrier ( 33 ). 
     
     
         4 . Instrument as in  claim 2  wherein the nozzle ( 20 ) is elastically supported on the carrier ( 33 ). 
     
     
         5 . Instrument as in  claim 1  wherein the actuator ( 32 ) is disposed to at least one of:
 pivot the nozzle ( 20 ) about at least one axis oriented transversely with respect to the exit direction ( 28 ), or 
 move it along an axis that extends parallel to the exit direction ( 28 ). 
 
     
     
         6 . Instrument as in  claim 1  wherein the actuator ( 32 ) is disposed to at least one of:
 pivot the nozzle ( 20 ) about two axes oriented transversely with respect to the exit direction ( 28 ), or 
 move it along one axis that extends parallel to the exit direction ( 28 ). 
 
     
     
         7 . Instrument as in  claim 1  wherein the actuator ( 32 ) comprises at least one piezo drive. 
     
     
         8 . Instrument as in  claim 1  wherein the actuator ( 32 ) comprises at least one vibramotor. 
     
     
         9 . Instrument as in  claim 1  wherein the actuator ( 32 ) is connected to a control arrangement ( 27 ) in order to supply to the actuator ( 32 ) triggering signals (U x , U y ) generated by the control arrangement ( 27 ). 
     
     
         10 . Instrument as in  claim 9  wherein the control arrangement ( 27 ) is disposed to generate a periodic triggering signal (U x , U y ). 
     
     
         11 . Instrument as in  claim 9  wherein the control arrangement ( 27 ) is disposed to generate at least two different triggering signals (U x , U y ) and is provided with a selecting device ( 23 ,  24 ) controlled by the control arrangement ( 27 ) to switch from generating a triggering signal (U x , U y ) to generating another triggering signal (U′ x , U′ y ). 
     
     
         12 . Instrument as in  claim 11  wherein a first one of the triggering signals (U x , U y ) is allocated to a first jet image and a second one of the triggering signals (U′ x , U′ y ) is allocated to a second jet image. 
     
     
         13 . Instrument as in  claim 1  wherein the nozzle ( 20 ) is connected to an electrical line ( 16 ) that is connected to an RF-generator ( 38 ) in order to supply the nozzle with RF power. 
     
     
         14 . Instrument as in  claim 1  wherein an arrangement ( 25 ) for generating pressure pulses is located upstream of the nozzle ( 20 ). 
     
     
         15 . Instrument as in  claim 1  wherein the actuator ( 32 ) is a unit that can be separated from the instrument ( 12 ). 
     
     
         16 . A method of operation for a fluid-surgical instrument ( 12 ), the method comprising:
 passing fluid through a fluid conductor ( 15 ) that extends through a carrier ( 33 ) to a nozzle ( 20 ) that is connected to a distal end ( 19 ) of the fluid conductor ( 15 ),   moving the nozzle in an oscillating manner relative to the carrier ( 33 ) using an actuator ( 32 ) that is in operative connection with the nozzle ( 20 ).   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the moving the nozzle further comprises at least one of:
 pivoting the nozzle ( 20 ) about at least one axis oriented transversely with respect to an exit direction ( 28 ) of the fluid through the nozzle, or 
 moving it along an axis that extends parallel to the exit direction ( 28 ). 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the actuator receiving triggering signals (U x , U y ) generated by a control arrangement ( 27 ). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the receiving the triggering signals comprises:
 receiving a first one of the triggering signals (Ux, Uy) and in response ejecting the fluid in a first jet image, and 
 receiving a second one of the triggering signals (U′x, U′y) and in response ejecting the fluid in a second jet image. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising generating pressure pulses in the fluid.